32
Some people shouted one thing while others shouted something else. The crowd was confused. Most of the people didn't even know why they had come together.
33
Some people concluded that Alexander was the cause, so the Jews pushed him to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand to quiet the people because he wanted to defend himself in front of them.
34
But when they recognized that Alexander was a Jew, everyone started to shout in unison, "Artemis of the Ephesians is great!" They kept doing this for about two hours.
35
The city clerk finally quieted the crowd. Then he said, "Citizens of Ephesus, everyone knows that this city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis. Everyone knows that Ephesus is the keeper of the statue that fell down from Zeus.
36
No one can deny this. So you have to be quiet and not do anything foolish.
37
The men you brought here don't rob temples or insult our goddess.
38
If Demetrius and the men who work for him have a legal complaint against anyone, we have special days and officials to hold court. That's where they should bring charges against each other.
39
If you want anything else, you must settle the matter in a legal assembly.
40
At this moment we run the risk of being accused of rioting today for no reason. We won't be able to explain this mob."
41
After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.